Complete Story

11/29/2018

Election Review

Election Day Review

The Republican ticket of Mike DeWine and Jon Husted were elected Governor and Lt. Governor of Ohio. They will take office in January. Their platform included a strong dedication to increasing addiction treatment options amid the ongoing opioid crisis, lowering prescription drug costs, and reducing administrative burden upon physicians.

Additionally, DeWine and Husted have stated that they will retain Ohio’s Medicaid expansion, and will pursue a plan to strengthen the program and control its cost by implementing more patient responsibility requirements. They defeated the Democratic ticket of Richard Cordray and Betty Sutton.

Incumbent U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, was re-elected defeating Republican Congressman Jim Renacci. Brown, the son of a physician, has a reputation in Washington for working across the aisle. He frequently reaches out to physicians for input on legislative proposals impacting the practice of medicine, and notably played a large role in the recent favorable revision and finalization of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)’s changes to the 2019 Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program.

Both Democratic candidates for Ohio Supreme Court won their races. Judges Melody Stewart and Michael Donnelly will join the bench as the high court’s only Democrats, having edged out Republican candidates Judge Craig Baldwin and current Justice Mary DeGenaro. Judge Stewart is the first black woman elected to the Ohio Supreme Court. Judge Donnelly will take the seat previously occupied by Justice Terrence O’Donnell, who was unable to run for re-election due to age restrictions.

The Ohio General Assembly will remain in Republican control as the GOP retained its grip on both the Ohio House and Senate chambers. The 133rd General Assembly will start in January with Republicans holding a 63-to-36 edge over Democrats in the House and a 25-to-8 margin in the Senate.